The short answer
- Wood deck at a house: Yes, according to EcoSmart Fire, if the table sits level on its adjustable feet with at least a half inch of air gap underneath, the decking is sealed, and flammable items stay about 39 in (1 m) away while it is lit.
- Grass or artificial turf: No.
- Condo or apartment balcony: Often not allowed. Fire codes for multifamily buildings commonly restrict open flames on balconies, and HOA rules can be stricter still. Get written approval before you buy.
- Enclosed porch or indoors: Only the bioethanol version, with EcoSmart's required indoor safety parts installed, in a room that meets the burner's minimum volume.
Bioethanol fire tables are popular because they need no gas line, flue or electrical connection. That freedom makes them easy to place almost anywhere, which is exactly why the question of where they are allowed comes up so often. There are three separate layers to check: the manufacturer's placement requirements, your local fire code, and any HOA, lease or building rules. A spot has to pass all three.
Wood decks: allowed, with four conditions
EcoSmart states that its bioethanol fire tables are approved for combustible surfaces such as wood decking. Its conditions are specific:
- Keep an air gap underneath. The table needs at least 1/2 in (12.5 mm) of clearance between the deck and the underside of the unit. The height-adjustable articulating feet create it, so do not remove them or set the table on a solid plinth that blocks airflow.
- Keep it level and stable. The surface must be hard and flat. Avoid areas of decking that flex or bounce when you walk across them.
- Protect the timber from moisture. EcoSmart advises protecting unsealed or porous decks from moisture and water runoff from the table.
- Keep flammables back. Hold flammable materials at least 1 metre, about 39 in, from the table while it is lit, and let the unit cool completely before refueling.
Because bioethanol produces no sparks or embers, a certified ethanol table avoids the main reason wood-burning fire pits are a poor match for timber decks. It is still an open flame, so the clearances above are not optional.
Surfaces to avoid
Artificial turf. EcoSmart says its fire tables are not designed for artificial turf. Turf compresses unevenly, so the feet cannot hold the half-inch air gap, and it traps moisture under the table, which can damage the concrete surround over time.
Grass, gravel beds and uneven ground. Same problem: the table needs a level, solid base. Patio stone, concrete slabs and sealed decking are the surfaces EcoSmart names as suitable.
Balconies: the fire code is the real question
This is where most confusion starts, and where honest guidance matters most. The fact that ethanol burns without smoke does not by itself make it allowed on a balcony.
Two model codes shape most US rules:
- NFPA 1 (Fire Code), section 10.10.6.1. For buildings other than one- and two-family dwellings, it prohibits hibachis, grills and similar devices used for cooking, heating or any other purpose on balconies, under overhangs, or within 10 ft of a structure. Florida is one state that applies this language directly. The words "heating, or any other purpose" mean it is not limited to grills.
- International Fire Code (IFC), section 308.1.4. It prohibits charcoal burners and other open-flame cooking devices on combustible balconies or within 10 ft of combustible construction, with exceptions for one- and two-family dwellings, sprinklered buildings and balconies, and very small LP-gas cooking devices.
Many states and cities add their own amendments. Minnesota's optional Appendix O, where a city adopts it, bans any fire or open flame on balconies above ground level in buildings with three or more units, and on ground-floor patios within 15 ft of the structure.
For readers in Massachusetts, where Lumiflares is based: the state fire code, 527 CMR 1.00, is based on the 2021 edition of NFPA 1 with state amendments. Local fire departments interpret and enforce it, so check with yours.
What this means in practice:
- At a single-family house or a two-family home, balcony and deck use is generally treated differently from apartments and condos under these codes. The manufacturer's conditions above still apply.
- In an apartment or condo building, assume an ethanol fire table is covered by open-flame and heating-device restrictions until your local fire prevention office tells you otherwise in writing.
- HOA covenants, leases and renter's or condo insurance policies can prohibit open flame even where the fire code allows it.
Questions to ask before buying for a balcony
- Is our building treated as a one- or two-family dwelling or a multifamily building under the local fire code?
- Is the balcony protected by an automatic sprinkler system, and is the balcony construction combustible or noncombustible?
- Does the local code restrict open-flame decorative or heating appliances on balconies, not just grills?
- Do the HOA rules, master deed or lease prohibit open-flame devices?
- Does our insurance policy exclude or restrict them?
Get answers in writing. If the answer is no, a flame-effect electric unit is often the practical alternative in multifamily buildings.
Covered patios, enclosed porches and indoor rooms
A roof changes the picture, and so do walls.
If the space is enclosed (a three-season porch with windows, a sunroom, or any interior room), treat it as indoor use. EcoSmart lists the bioethanol versions of its fire tables for indoor use, but states that the Indoor Safety Tray must be installed before operating indoors, and that AB8 tables must also have the AB8 Burner Efficiency Ring fitted. The tray is not part of the standard outdoor setup. Gas versions of EcoSmart fire tables are outdoor only.
If the space is roofed but open-sided (a pergola with a solid cover, a porch roof, an overhang), the key figure is overhead clearance, and that is model-specific. EcoSmart publishes a Clearances and Installation Manual for each table. Check that document for your model rather than relying on a general rule, and remember that the multifamily code limits described above also cover areas under overhangs.
Indoor room size: do the math before you buy
Every EcoSmart burner has a minimum room volume for indoor use. Calculate your room as length x width x ceiling height, in feet.
| Burner | Heat output | Minimum room volume | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|
| AB8 | 20,433 BTU/h | 4,097 cu ft | Base 30, Base 40, Ark 40, Manhattan 50, Martini 50 |
| XL900 | 15,000 BTU/h | 3,885 cu ft | Cosmo 50, Wharf 65, Gin 90 Dining, Gin 90 Bar |
Some worked examples with an 8 ft ceiling:
| Room | Volume | XL900 table | AB8 table |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 x 20 ft | 2,400 cu ft | Too small | Too small |
| 20 x 24 ft | 3,840 cu ft | Too small | Too small |
| 20 x 25 ft | 4,000 cu ft | Meets minimum | Too small |
| 20 x 26 ft | 4,160 cu ft | Meets minimum | Meets minimum |
A higher ceiling helps: a 20 x 20 ft room with a 10.5 ft ceiling is 4,200 cu ft. These minimums are the manufacturer's floor, not a comfort target. A room that barely qualifies will warm up noticeably with an AB8 at full flame. Confirm the specific table with us before planning an indoor installation, so the right safety parts ship with your order.
Want a second opinion on your spot? Send us a photo and rough measurements of the space, and a Lumiflares specialist will tell you which tables fit and what to check. Ask a fireplace expert.
Wind and siting outdoors
Wind affects ethanol flames more than most buyers expect. EcoSmart notes that gusts push the flame off center, increase fuel consumption and can put the burner out. Its siting advice:
- Keep the table away from trees, large shrubs and umbrellas that sway and create gusty air.
- Avoid narrow corridors between walls, where airflow speeds up.
- Favor open ground or partly sheltered courtyards, where the breeze is steadier.
- Use a toughened glass fire screen, which steadies the flame while keeping it visible.
Placement checklist before the first light
- The fire code and any HOA or lease rules allow an open-flame device in this spot.
- The surface is level, solid and not grass or turf.
- The feet are fitted and give at least a half inch of air gap underneath.
- Cushions, throws, umbrellas, plants and other flammables are at least 39 in away.
- Overhead clearance matches the model's Clearances and Installation Manual.
- For indoor use: the Indoor Safety Tray (plus the efficiency ring on AB8 tables) is installed and the room meets the minimum volume.
- The burner is completely cool before every refill.
For the fuel-handling side of safety, including how to refuel and what recent safety warnings about ethanol fire pits mean for buyers, read Are Ethanol Fire Pits Safe?
Which tables suit smaller outdoor spaces?
If your deck or terrace is compact, two models stand out. The Base 30 is the smallest footprint in the range at 30.6 x 30.6 in. The Manhattan 50 is only 30 in deep and 11.7 in high, so it lines up in front of a loveseat like a normal coffee table. A smaller table does not change the code rules for balconies, though. Size only helps once the location itself is allowed.
To compare every model by size, height and burner, see EcoSmart Fire Tables Compared.
Frequently asked questions
Can you put an ethanol fire pit on a wood deck?
EcoSmart approves its bioethanol fire tables for wood decks when the table has at least a half inch of air gap underneath, sits level on a solid surface, the timber is protected from moisture, and flammables are kept about 39 in away while lit.
Are ethanol fire tables allowed on apartment balconies?
Often not. Codes based on NFPA 1 restrict devices used for heating or other purposes on balconies of buildings other than one- and two-family homes, and many HOAs ban open flame outright. Check with your local fire prevention office and your building management before buying.
Can an ethanol fire table be used under a covered patio?
It depends on the model's overhead clearance, published in EcoSmart's Clearances and Installation Manual for each table, and on local code. If the covered space is enclosed, treat it as indoor use.
Can I use an EcoSmart fire table indoors?
The bioethanol versions are listed for indoor use with the Indoor Safety Tray installed (plus the AB8 Burner Efficiency Ring on AB8 tables), in a room that meets the burner's minimum volume: 4,097 cu ft for AB8 tables and 3,885 cu ft for XL900 tables. Gas versions are outdoor only.
Can I put a fire table on artificial grass?
No. EcoSmart says its fire tables are not designed for artificial turf, because turf cannot hold the required air gap and traps moisture under the table.
Sources
- EcoSmart Fire, Fire Tables FAQ (decks, artificial turf, wind)
- EcoSmart Fire, AB8 and XL900 burner specifications
- EcoSmart Fire, Wharf 65 and Ark 40 indoor requirements
- NFPA 1 section 10.10.6.1, as cited by the City of Weston, Florida
- International Fire Code 2021, section 308.1.4, as published by the City of Bryan, Texas Fire Marshal's Office
- Minnesota State Fire Marshal, BBQ grills and Appendix O
- Massachusetts 527 CMR 1.00, Comprehensive Fire Safety Code
This article is general information, not legal advice. Fire codes vary by state and city and are enforced locally. Always follow the manufacturer's installation and operation manual for your model and confirm local requirements with your fire department. Product photography courtesy of EcoSmart Fire.